You couldn't say "what's in a name" here and get away with it as easily as Shakespeare did. Whether the suffix is a mid-life plug-in or an original (some clairvoyance, that), it sure is apt. For, this is one of the best kavis of Andhra, and, now, one of the longest serving ones too.
Dr Jyothsna of the Jyothsna Kala Peetham is celebrating her father Dr Gnanananda Kavi's 80th birthday. Dr Kavi is an Asu Kavi (natural poet), and has been writing poems since he was eight. He has written about 40 books on poetry. His modern poetry in 'Gandhi Amara Gitam' has won him laurels. He has received the A P Sahitya Academy Award for his 'Amrapali'. Another book of his poems called 'Vamshadhara' won him the 'Best Poetry' Award.
The Andhra University awarded him with a doctorate in the year 1975, and the Telugu University in 1999. He also received a Sahiti Award along with a cash award of Rs. 25,000 from the then Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, N T Rama Rao. He also recently received the Paidi Laxmaiah award, and the A P Samskruthika Samstha 'Hamsa' award for his contribution towards poetry. In the year 2000 he received the Padmasri from the Central Government as recognition for his hard work.
Some of his famous collections of poetry are 'Dharma Graham', 'Vamshadhara', 'Aksharabhisekham', 'Golconda Kavyam', 'Kristu Prabandham' and 'Naajeevitha Gatha'. He is currently working on 'Vivekananda Ganam' (the life history of Swami Vivekananda). Dr Jyothsna aims to publish his father's work and make it available to the public by the end of this year.
On the event of Dr Kavi's 80th birthday celebrations, the Jyothsna Kala Peetham is organizing some cultural programs. M V Ramana Kumari will start the day's program with Sangeetha Vibhavari, which will be followed by Padya Gaanam (recital of poems of Dr Kavi) by Akkiraju Sundara Ramakrishna. Lastly, three Padmasri awardees, Sobha Naidu, Nerella Venu Madhav and D Prasad Rao, will be felicitated for receiving the coveted title.
Please contact Dr Jyothsna, Jyothsna Kala Peetam, at 707-5017 for further details.